Hewitt steps down from research post
Ted Hewitt, vice-president (research and international relations), stepped down from his position Tuesday, Oct. 25. Hewitt will transition from this role on Nov. 1, and begin academic leave effective Jan. 1, 2012. This change will provide Hewitt with the time and opportunity to pursue his personal research and internationalization activities focused on Brazil at the national level.
“I wish to thank Dr. Hewitt for his many important contributions and tireless service to Western and wish him well in his new endeavours,” Western president Amit Chakma says.
Janice Deakin, provost and vice-president (academic), will take on the additional role of acting vice-president (research and international relations) effective Nov. 1.
Student paper on national security law wins award
Calie Adamson won the Geoff Weller Memorial Prize from the Canadian Association of Security Intelligence Studies (CASIS). This national award is given to a student for the best undergraduate and graduate paper on a subject dealing with intelligence, security or law enforcement.
Adamson’s paper, The Government That Cried Wolf: The Need for Special Advocates to Challenge Secrecy and Nondisclosure, was originally submitted for a Western Law January term course in national security law taught by Ron Atkey.
Adamson, who is currently articling at McMillan LLP, receives a $400 prize.
Loebach, McCans up to the ‘Challenge’
The team of Janet Loebach and Sarah McCans, PhD students working with geography professor Jason Gilliland, successfully competed in the London Community Foundation’s Clean Air Challenge. The pair were awarded $25,000 to further their work on improving children’s environments.
Together, with the support of numerous local organizations and other members of Western’ Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, they are creating a project to ‘green’ the spaces of local elementary schools. They believe this will help reduce children’s exposure to airborne pollutants. The process of greening these spaces will be embedded into the curriculum and students will be active participants in the projects.
Forum puts India in spotlight
Last week, India took centre stage at Driving Opportunities in Canada-India Education and Research Partnerships, a public forum focused on engaging with India at a time when it is undergoing an unprecedented expansion of its economy.
Several notable visitors were in attendance, including Sheila Embleton, Canada-India Education Council president; Rana Sarkar, Canada-India Business Council president; Lalji Singh, Banaras Hindu University, India, vice-chancellor; Sudha Deshmukh, Jain University (India) dean of sciences; Pranawa Deshmukh, Indian Institute of Technology (Madras, India) professor; Michele Davies, Globalink Program of MITACS director; and Lalu Mansinha, Ontario-Maharashtra-Goa student exchange program director.
Discussions led to the conclusion Canada needs a national strategy for educational engagement with India, but also Western should settle on its own strategy and be willing to make bold moves to highlight its presence to Indians.
The event was organized by Western professors Shantanu Basu (physics/astronomy), Shiva Singh (biology), Lalu Mansinha (Earth sciences) and Kanthi Kaluarachchi (physics/astronomy), as well as Deepthi Murthy (Ivey).
Alumnae remain on McGuinty cabinet
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty unveiled his new cabinet last week, with two Western alumnae remaining on the roster. Laurel Broten, JD’93, was named Minister of Education, and continues as Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues. Deb Matthews, BA’ 98 and PhD’06 (sociology), maintains her post as Minister of Health & Long Term Care.
Other notable assignments include:
- Glen Murray, former Minister of Research & Innovation, becomes Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities;
- Chris Bentley, former adjunct professor in Western’s Faculty of Law, moves from Attorney General to Minster of Energy;
- Former Minister of Energy Brad Duguid takes on the newly expanded Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation
“Around the world, there are signs of growing economic uncertainty. Our experienced cabinet will bring strong, steady leadership to Ontario’s economy,” McGuinty says.
All ministers in the new, condensed 22-member cabinet (down from 28) have previously held cabinet positions.
– Marcia Steyaert